Method and apparatus for printing merchandising information

ABSTRACT

A weighing scale which includes a label printer for printing labels having a detachable portion. A label cassette is easily inserted or removed from the weighing scale. The label cassette is changed depending on the type of label to be printed. Standard labels can be printed, or labels having detachable portions along one side can be printed. The detachable portion can have merchandising information printed thereon including coupon information, advertising information, discounts, specials, and product information. The information on the label and detachable portions is easily edited by an operator at a control panel of the weighing scale. A conversational display is provided which allows easy editing and also allows specials, recipes, etc., to be displayed. A molded cover is provided to prevent moisture from entering the weighing scale without interfering with the operation of the weighing scale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention provides a method and apparatus forprinting merchandising information including programming labels,entering product and merchandising information and printing a labelincluding merchandising information at the point of weighing orlabelling. The merchandising information includes product informationsuch as a special price, advertising information, and/or productinformation along with a coupon for a related item.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Generally, labels for items purchased at a deli department orbakery department in a grocery store are printed at a weighing station.The labels are preprogrammed into a weighing scale and are printed oncommand. The labels contain a description of the item, weight, price perpound and UPC code.

[0005] Coupons are distributed in a variety of different ways includingthrough newspapers, attached to items to be purchased, or generated at acheckout. Coupons printed in newspapers, magazines, or other relatedmedia must be clipped by the consumer, taken to a store and redeemed.The problem with this method is that there is little control over howmany coupons are produced and no control as to when and where thecoupons will be redeemed. Producing these types of coupons is also veryexpensive and lacks impact because they are unfocused from amerchandising point of view.

[0006] Coupons generated in-store at the point of sale (POS) require aseparate printer interfaced to the POS system. The problem with thismethod is that coupons are generated after a customer has paid andtherefore are only useable at the next time of purchase. This does notpromote impulse purchases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide alabel/detachable merchandising information printer as an integral partof a weighing scale, the merchandising information being easily changed.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to produce labelsfor randomly weighed items provided with label/merchandising informationin which the merchandising information includes a detachablestore-generated coupon or a coupon printed by a manufacturer and/oradvertising information.

[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to providelabel/merchandising information which can be used with any type ofweighing scale, is easily edited and has the option of printing up tothree dates and a time.

[0010] Still another object of the present invention is to providelabel/merchandising information such that specials can be displayed orscrolled on a display without the need for performing special additionalprogramming.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a durablemolded plastic cover for a weighing scale which prevents moisture andcondensation from entering the interior of the scale.

[0012] The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are obtainedby providing a method for printing merchandising information comprisingthe steps of programming label designs, entering product andmerchandising information and printing a label including the product andmerchandising information. Programming the label designs includes thesteps of determining general field position parameters, determiningfield positions for each label, converting the field positions intocoordinate numbers, programming the coordinate numbers into a desiredlabel format and generating a label in accordance with the desired labelformat. In addition, the generated label has a portion which isperforated for easy detachability. The perforated portion of the labelincludes coupon information, product information, merchandisinginformation and/or advertising information. Product and merchandisinginformation is entered by creating and storing a table of merchandisingmessages in a microprocessor for each of the products to be sold,programming the table of merchandising messages into sales messages,programming products to refer to the sales messages, editing the salesmessages to change the merchandising messages and changing the text ofthe sales messages by editing the contents of the sales messages. Alabel is printed by selecting a label cassette containing desired labeldesigns, inserting the label cassette into a scale/label printer,selecting a product number for the product being weighed and printing alabel with product information and a selected message in accordance withthe selected product number.

[0013] In addition, the present invention provides labels for use in aweighing machine in which a label cassette is easily inserted or removedfrom a cavity in the weighing machine. The labels have a detachableportion. A printer prints the labels to be attached to the weighedproduct with product information and prints the detachable portion ofthe labels with, for example, merchandising information. As noted above,the merchandising information includes, for example, coupon information,advertising information or product information. The detachable portionof the label is detachable in a vertical direction along a left or rightportion of the label or in a horizontal direction along a top or bottomportion of the label.

[0014] Further, a weighing scale having internal electronics is providedincluding a weighing platter for holding a product to be weighed, aweighing cross for determining the weight of the object on the weighingplatter and a molded plastic cover for covering the weighing scale andpreventing moisture from entering the internal electronics of theweighing scale. The molded plastic cover is located under the weighingcross so as not to interfere with the weighing operation. It can be heldin place with screws or similar devices. The molded plastic cover can bemolded into two pieces, the two pieces being joined together by anadhesive and in such a manner as to not allow moisture or condensationinto the weighing scale. One of the two pieces of the molded plasticcover has an opening with a flap for allowing receipt of a labelcassette.

[0015] These objects, together with other objects and advantages whichwill be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, whereinlike reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a weighing scale employing a methodaccording to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a flowchart for generally explaining the operation ofthe present invention;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart for programming label designsaccording to the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart for entering product andmerchandising information according to the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart for printing a label havingmerchandising information according to the present invention;

[0021] FIGS. 6A-6D are diagrams of labels including label/merchandisinginformation generated by the method according to the present invention;and

[0022]FIG. 7 is a diagram of a weighing scale employing a molded plasticcover according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus forproducing labels. The labels are printed in a portion of a weighingscale 20 provided with a removable label cassette 22. The removablelabel cassette 22 includes, for example, a roll of label material (notshown). A label format is programmed and then printed on the labelmaterial when an item is weighed. Various cassettes including variouslabel materials can easily be inserted or removed from the weighingscale. Information is printed on the label material and can include, forexample, product information, ingredient information, recipes, sell bydates, use by dates, store receipt dates, a time, price per pound,weight of the product, total price, discount price, and UPC symbol. Thelabel material can have a perforated portion on any of its four sides.The perforation allows merchandising information, includingadvertisements, manufacturers coupons or store coupons, printed thereon,to be easily detached from the label (product) information whichincludes, for example, the name of the product, the weight of theproduct, UPC code, and price per pound. The coupon can include, forexample, information pertaining to any discounts, specials on thepurchased item, advertising, cents-off on a product, UPC code,expiration date, etc.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the weighing scale 20 employed in the presentinvention includes a main body 21 having an opening 24 for the insertionor removal of the label cassette 22. The label cassette 22 can be frontloading or side loading. The optimum placement of the cassette openingis in the front of the weighing scale for easy access by the operatorfor inserting and removing the label cassette 22 and removal of thelabels printed by the label cassette 22. The weighing scale 20 alsoincludes a control panel 26, a key sheet 28 located on the control panel26, a weigh platter 30, and a display column 31 including a sevensegment display 32 and a dot matrix display 34.

[0025] The method for generating a label according to the presentinvention is described with respect to the flowchart in FIG. 2. That is,generally, the present invention prints merchandising information byprogramming label designs and entering product and merchandisinginformation by way of the key sheet 28. The display prompts the operatorand shows the operator what has been programmed. A label is then printedhaving the merchandising information programmed therein.

[0026] The flowchart in FIG. 3 discloses a method for programming thelabel designs. First, for example, a distributor which sells theweighing scale meets with a customer to agree on general field positionparameters for the labels to be generated. Each label is drawn and theposition of each field is clearly measured in millimeters. The positionof each field is then converted into coordinate numbers. The coordinatenumbers are programmed into a desired label format in a microprocessor(not shown) in the weighing scale 20. A sample of the label is thenproduced for the customer to determine whether any changes should bemade. If the customer does not agree to the format of the label, thelabel is then redrawn with different field positions. Once the customeragrees to the format of the label, all of the customer's weighing scales20 are then programmed with the label format before installation intothe store, supermarket, etc.

[0027] Product and merchandising information is entered as shown in FIG.4. That is, a table of merchandising messages for each product iscreated and then programmed into the microprocessor in the weighingscale 20. The merchandising table is then converted into sales messages.The sales messages have numbers, for example, from 7 to 99, but are notlimited to these numbers. Product look-up codes (PLUs) are thenprogrammed into the weighing scale 20 and are programmed to refer to arespective sales message, for example, 7 to 99. To change themerchandising information programmed for each respective PLU code, thesales message can be easily edited by an operator and/or distributor. Tochange the text programmed as a sales message, that is, change the salesmessage in location 7, the contents of this location, or any of thelocations 7-99, can be quickly and easily edited by an operator. Onceall the information regarding the product and message associatedtherewith is programmed, a label is printed with the programmedinformation.

[0028] The method for printing a label is shown by the flowchart in FIG.5. First, a label cassette 22 containing the type of merchandisinglabels required for that product is inserted into the opening 24 in theweighing scale 20. That is, if a coupon is not to be generated for thatproduct, a label cassette containing standard labels can be quickly andeasily inserted into the weighing scale 20. If a label to be printedalso has a coupon or advertisement associated with the product beingweighed, then, for example, a label cassette containing labels havingperforations thereon is selected and inserted into the weighing scale.Once the label cassette 22 is inserted into the weighing scale 20, thelabels are correctly aligned by, for example, pressing a feed key on thecontrol panel 26. The product to be weighed is then placed on the scale,or if it is a bakery item, the PLU code corresponding to that product isselected. Once the PLU number is selected, a label is printed having therequired information thereon by pressing a key on the control panel 26.The weighing scale 20 can also be set to automatically print labels whena package is placed on the weigh platter 30, rather than having to hit aprint key.

[0029] FIGS. 6A-6D are diagrams of various label formats in whichlabel/merchandising information generated by the method of the presentinvention is printed on a label. Labels of the present invention areshown in FIGS. 6A-6D. Labels 40 according to the present invention havea perforated portion 41 on one of four sides. That is, for example,either a top portion or a bottom portion is perforated in a horizontaldirection or a left portion or right portion is perforated in a verticaldirection. The portion 42 of the label 40 having product information,can include the product name, ingredients, price per pound, weight, anddate, for example. The back of the portion 42 is peeled off so that itadheres to the package. The detachable portion 44 of the label 40includes a coupon or advertisement. The portion 44 can include the nameof an item, cents-off, expiration date, date generated, discounts, a barcode for allowing automatic scanning of the coupon, and any advertisingmessages. The portion 44 maintains its backing so that it does not stickto the package when the label is adhered thereto. If the customer wishesto use the coupon (detachable portion 44) attached to the label 40, allthat is required is that the coupon be torn off at the perforatedportion 41. If the label material is sticky, then the backing remains onthe coupon. If the label material is non-sticky, then the backing can beremoved from the coupon. As noted above, the labels 40 can have astore-generated coupon attached thereto as shown in FIG. 6A. Inaddition, the labels can be printed by the manufacturer as shown in FIG.6B so that everyone receives the same coupon no matter what product isbeing weighed. The manufacturer's label/coupon can be pre-printed withthe manufacturer's name. Any of the labels and coupons, whether storegenerated or manufacturer generated, can be colored using various colorsfor each label/coupon.

[0030] Further, the store coupon can match certain items with certainproducts such as shown in FIG. 6A or 6C. That is, if, for example, apackage of bagels is purchased, a coupon off of cream cheese can begenerated. Or, for example, a coupon for a packet of cajun spices can begenerated when shrimp or fish is purchased, etc. Thus, the coupon can begenerated by the weighing scale 20 in accordance with the productpurchased. In addition, the weighing scale 20 and printer (not shown)can print regular labels as shown in FIG. 6D without a coupon. If it isnot desired to generate a coupon with a purchased product, anadvertising message or recipe can be generated instead. The messages andcoupons can be easily changed according to various codes in themicroprocessor in the weighing scale 20. This allows a store to targetits marketing, have control over coupons being generated and easilydiscount a product if the store is overstocked.

[0031] The microprocessor in the weighing scale 20 can be programmed tostore various label formats. The label format of the machine can bechanged to match the label format in the label cassette.

[0032] As noted above, different label formats are preprogrammed by thedealer or distributor. The store determines the UPC code and the PLUcode—the PLU code being the product look-up code. In the program mode,the PLU code is typed in along with the product, ingredients, recipes,price, etc. A weighed mode or non-weighed mode is then selected inaccordance with whether the item is, for example, a deli item or abakery item. Further, UPC codes, up to three dates and a time and adiscounted price and regular price (see, for example, 46 in FIGS. 6A and6C) can be programmed.

[0033] To protect the weighing scale 20 from moisture and condensation,a cover 50 can be provided as shown in FIG. 7. The cover 50 is a moldedplastic cover which covers everything on the scale except for theopening 24 for the label cassette 22 and the weighing platter 30. Thecover 50 has a flap to cover the opening 24 so that the label cassette22 can be easily inserted and removed. The cover 50 is attached underthe weighing cross 52 which actually weighs the item, so as not toaffect the weight of the item. The molded plastic cover 50 is thin,lightweight and is molded to tightly fit the weighing scale 20 so thatthere is no problem operating the weighing scale 20. The only portionnot covered by the cover 50 is the display column 31 including the7-segment display 32 and the dot matrix display 34. The cover 50 isremovable to allow entry to the weighing machine 20 when servicing isrequired. The cover 50 can be made of two portions joined together withdouble-sided tape. The seam is intended to overlap and be in a downwarddirection to ensure that water does not seep through.

[0034] The features of the present invention include a large brightfluorescent alphanumeric dot display 34 plus a numeric display 32. Ninemessages can be programmed into the display at selectable speeds. Eachmessage can hold up to 100 characters. In addition, there are, at thistime, 93 extra text areas which can be used for recipes, ingredients, orcoupon labels. Depending on the microprocessor employed, this area couldbe increased. Further, nutritional facts can be programmed as part ofthe PLU code and can be changed immediately by an operator. A worddictionary can be employed in the microprocessor so that codes can beused to replace words in the product description so as to save memory.The device can also network at least 31 scales to a master scale (atotal of 32 scales) to facilitate the ease of programming, pricechanges, etc. A mark down can be shown by price or percent and batchfile prices can be updated (that is, an operator can program in pricechanges for a future date and can activate these price changes whenneeded). As above-mentioned, optimally, the label cassette 22 is frontloading for ease in label production and detachment. Further, at leastthree dates, for example, a use by date, a sell by date, and the datethe store received the product, and a time can be printed. The time canbe printed to allow a customer to know when a short shelf life item suchas a sandwich has been made, or coffee has been ground. In addition,items can be programmed to be displayed on the display without the needto create a new message or to require additional programming. That is,an item that has been programmed into the memory of a microprocessor canbe displayed by merely hitting a sequence of keys rather than retypingthe pertinent information. In addition, messages can be programmed toscroll across the display. The messages can hold up to, for example,four lines of information and can correspond to specials for the day,helpful hints or recipes for preparing an item, as noted above. Thespeed at which the message scrolls across the display is adjustable. Themessage can flash and/or it can be set up to come on at certain times ofthe day or on particular days.

[0035] The printer employed in the present invention can be any type ofprinter feasible for use in a weigh scale environment. Programming ofinformation and fixed position parameters depends on the type ofprogramming the microprocessors employ. The present invention wasdeveloped and tested employing an AC-2000 manufactured by ISHIDA SCALESMFG. CO., LTD. and ISHIDA U.S.A. INC., but can be adapted to any type ofweigh scale.

[0036] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the present invention. Further, since numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructionand application shown and described, and accordingly all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the invention and the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for printing merchandising information,comprising the steps of: (a) programming label designs; (b) enteringproduct and merchandising information; and (c) printing a labelincluding the product and merchandising information.
 2. A method forprinting merchandising information according to claim 1, wherein saidstep (a) comprises the substeps of: (i) determining general fieldposition parameters; (ii) determining field positions for each label;(iii) converting field positions into coordinate numbers; (iv)programming the coordinate numbers into a desired label format; and (v)generating a label in accordance with the desired label format.
 3. Amethod for printing merchandising information according to claim 2,wherein said step (v) comprises the substep of generating a label havinga perforated portion along one of four edges.
 4. A method for printingmerchandising information according to claim 3, wherein the perforatedportion of the label includes coupon information, item information,merchandising information and advertising information.
 5. A method forprinting merchandising information according to claim 1 wherein saidstep (b) comprises the substeps of: (i) creating and storing a table ofmerchandising messages for products, in a microprocessor; (ii)programming the table of merchandising messages into sales messages;(iii) programming products to refer to the sales messages; (iv) editingthe sales messages to change the merchandising messages; and (v)changing the text of the sales messages by editing the contents of thesales messages.
 6. A method for printing merchandising informationaccording to claim 1, wherein said step (c) comprises the substeps of:(i) selecting a label cassette containing desired label designs; (ii)inserting the label cassette into a scale/label printer; (iii) selectinga product number for the product being weighed; and (iv) printing alabel identifying the product and a selected message in accordance withthe selected product number.
 7. A method for printing merchandisinginformation according to claim 6, wherein said substep (iv) comprisesthe substep of producing a label having a perforated portion along oneof four edges.
 8. A method for printing merchandising informationaccording to claim 7, wherein the perforated portion of the labelincludes coupon information, item information, merchandising informationand advertising information.
 9. A weighing scale, comprising: a labelcassette easily inserted or removed from a cavity in the weighing scale;labels, inserted into said label cassette, said labels having anattachable portion and a detachable portion; and printing means forprinting said attachable portion of said labels, to be attached to aweighed product, with product information, and printing said detachableportion of said labels with merchandising information.
 10. A weighingscale according to claim 9, wherein said merchandising informationincludes coupon information, advertising information or productinformation.
 11. A weighing scale according to claim 10, wherein saiddetachable portion of said labels is detachable in a vertical directionalong a left or right portion of said labels.
 12. A weighing scaleaccording to claim 11, further comprising a molded plastic cover meansfor covering the weighing scale for preventing moisture and condensationfrom entering the weighing scale.
 13. A weighing scale according toclaim 9, wherein said detachable portion of said labels is detachable ina horizontal direction along a top or bottom portion of said labels. 14.A weighing scale according to claim 13, further comprising moldedplastic cover means for covering the weighing scale for preventingmoisture and condensation from entering the scale.
 15. A weighing scale,having internal electronics, including a label printer, comprising: aweighing platter for holding a product to be weighed; a weighing crossfor determining a weight of the product on said weighing platter; and amolded plastic cover for covering the weighing scale, located under saidweighing cross, for preventing moisture from entering the internalelectronics.
 16. A weighing scale according to claim 14, furthercomprising a label cassette, wherein the weighing scale has a receptaclefor receiving said label cassette, and wherein said molded plastic coveris molded in two pieces, one of said two pieces having an opening forcovering the receptacle for receiving said label cassette.
 17. Aweighing scale according to claim 15, wherein said molded plastic coveris formed from a thin material which tightly covers the weighing scale.18. A label, comprising: a first portion having a removable backing; asecond portion attached to said first portion and being detachable fromsaid first portion; and a perforation separating said first portion fromsaid second portion.
 19. A label according to claim 18, wherein saidfirst portion includes merchandising information printed thereon, andwherein said second portion includes coupon and advertising information.20. A label according to claim 19, wherein said perforation is in avertical direction from a top portion to a bottom portion of the label.